Cat head



Nov. 25, 1952 H. L.. coMsTQK Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE Claims.

This invention hasto do witha cat head and' is particularly concerned with a structure for use on or combined with a draw-works usefulv in a der-rick or the like, to handle well parts or equipment. It is a general object of the presentA inven-V tion to provide a cat head which is of simple, practical, dependable construction andA which is very safe and convenient to operate. y

Draw works are used in connection w-ith the drilling and servicing of rwells and the usual draw works involves, in addition to linev handling parts,A a rotatingY shaft which -is` equipped with a spool or cat head. The usual cat head is used for limitedand'special operations and ordinarily its use is momentary or for-a limited period of time, and it is highly important that-it'bequickly releasable; as rotherwise :theA operator lor those working around the-equipment" are likely to be` injured.

It' is a general object of this invention to provid-e a cat head operatively coupled'with a shaft or drawfWork-sthrough a'clutch in such manner that thecatf h-eadis subject' tovconvenient, dependable'control'by the operato-r.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide aVV cati head of the general character!v referred to inwhich-theworking partsare so arranged" and related asfto' forma' compact structure and so a's to be eiectivelyshielded.- ori encasedl against injuryorabu'se.

Al further object-ot the invention-is to! provide acatvhead ofi the general character referred to subjectfto: operation by a camniechanismiwhich is simple, positive and dependablein operation.

Itis a further object of the invention'to provide; acat head1 whichinoludes a' suitable control adaptedfforrmanual'operation andilwhich isso -re latedr to a draw works that the control isa-cces'sibleto anoperator positioned-to actuatelthe controls ofthe drawv works.'

Another' object of the invention is to'provide an cathead of the general character referred to hav-ing, incombination,A a clutch control and a brake, so thatthe 4cat head is either power nperatedor stopped. and isfn-otrsubject to operation whenthe control is not'deliberately-engaged.

The. various objectsand features of my invention'will beY fullyunderstood from the following detailed:descriptionoftypical preferred forms and applications of the. invention, throughout which.descriptionreference is madeto the aoL oom-panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1v is an endfeleV-ation of a-vdraw works embodying ,the present invention, showingthe'draw works. from thel endat whichV the operator.` is usually. located'andat whic-hthe draw works controls are assembled. Fig. 2 is an enlarged de` tailedl sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 of` Fig. l, showing the clutch of the drawv works' disengaged. Fig. 3 is a detailed transverse' sectional view-taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig'. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of parts of the structure' shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 5 is' a-view simil-ar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modied form of construction.

The present invention is primarily concerned with a cat head to be appliedY to or combined wit-hadraw wor-ks such as is commonly employed in a-ri'g for handling various parts and equip'- inent'.- The particular draw worksshown inthe drawings is characterized by a framev A, a rotatingfshaft B', -suitable braces C, and various other elements and working parts usually incidental-to structure of this character.

The frame A is shown as a rigid stationary structure having spaced end standards I0 joined by'a head beam I'I extending .between the upper ends ofV the beam. The braces'C extend from a` base or skids I2 upwardly to join the standards' Iin the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. `1 ofthe drawings.

YThe particular 'draw works illustrated in the drawings involves two shafts, that is, the shaft Bf, which' is the upper shaftV of the structure, anda secondor lower shaft I3.l The shaft I3 is carried by bearings I4 on the standards I0 and supportsaline carrying drum I5. The shaft BJwith which-the presentvinvention is concerned is carried by bearings I6 on the standards-I0; and it supportsa line carrying drum IT betweenthe standards. and has al projecting end port'io'ri- I 8 projecting'outwardfrom or beyondthe standard lil that-occurs 'at the end of the draw works where the operator normally stands.-

The shafts or 'working parts of theV drawfw'orks may be driven'iinv any suitable manner? from'a suitable prime mover (not shown). In' thefc'a's'e illustrated the driver is shown as involving? chains 2U; ZI and`22, and-a countershaft 23'located'at therearv of the draw works 24 carriedL on the braces C.

The various parts of the drawiwork's illustrated in the drawings and thus far described; as'. well as other partscomznon to suchstructurefsuch as-control clutches, etc. are responsive'tocontrols preferably grouped where'the lopera-tornar#- rnallyY stands.V In the case illustrated-the-Pcom trolsincludes a-foot'lever` 3U and a-hand'lever 31| and these controlsarelo'catedattheT end of thedraw works; where the-shaft `Bhafs -the projecting end portion I 8:

The present invention provides, generallyya spool or cat head D on the projectinT end portion S8 of shaft B, clutch means E acting between the shaft portion le and the cat head, an actuator F controlling the clutch E, operating means G for the actuator and operatively coupled with a control H, and a brake J also operatively coupled with the control I-I.

Referring rst to the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the cat head D is provided with a tubular line carrying body 32 which is concentrically disposed around the end portion |8 of shaft B, an inner end ange 33 projecting from the body 32, and an outer end flange 34 projecting from the outer end of the body. Suitable bearing means rotatably support the cat head on the shaft portion I8 and in accordance with the present invention the bearing means supporting the cat head are such as to not only allow for free rotation of the cat head relative to the shaft portion, but also for axial movement of the cat head relative to the shaft portion. In the particular case illustrated the cat head is mounted by means cf anti-friction bearings involving annular series of rollers 35 at the ends of the cat head. In the particular case illustrated the rollers are shown as operating on a nished sleeve 36 which is tight on the end portion |8 of shaft B. Further, in the construction illustrated sealing means 3B are provided outward of or beyond the outer ends of the series of rollers 35 to exclude foreign matter from entering to impair operation of the rollers and to retain lubricant which may be introduced to the rollers in any suitable manner. f The clutch means E is preferably located at and confined to the outer end portion of the cat head D and it preferably involves a friction type clutch. The particular clutch illustrated is of the cone type, which involves, generally, a conical seat 46 at or in the outer end portion of the cat head, and a correspondingly shaped clutch plate 4| opposed to the seat and carried by the shaft portion I8. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the outer end portion of the cat head is recessed or in the form of a socket, where the conical seat 40 is located, and the conical plate of the clutch is located in or wholly confined to the socket in the cat head. A lining 42 of suitable friction material is carried by one of the clutch elements, say for instance, the plate 4|, so that the desired frictional engagement is established between the plate and the cat head when the structure is operated as hereinafter described. In the structure illustrated the plate 4| is formed separate from the shaft i8 and is secured thereto by suitable screw fasteners 44.

With the construction just described and where the shaft B is rotatable but does not shift axially the clutch plate 4| rotates in a xed position axially of the structure and the clutch E is engaged and disengaged by axial shifting of the cat head D. For instance, when the cat head is shifted outwardly on the shaft portion I8 the clutch is engaged, whereas when it is shifted inwardly the clutch is released.

The actuator F for the cat head serves as a -means or mechanism by which the cat head can be shifted axially to effect the desired engagement or release of the clutch E. In the form of the invention illustrated the actuator F involves, generally, a yoke 45 carried by a pivotal support 46 and operatively connected with the cat head D through a thrust collar 41 and anti-friction means 48.

The yoke 45 has spaced sides '56 which straddle the collar 41 located concentric with shaft 6 and adjacent the outer side of flange 33 of the cat head D. A cross arm 5| connects the lower ends of the sides 50 below the collar and cat head, the cross arm 5| being preferably in the form of a bar or rod round in cross section for reasons that will be hereinafter apparent.

The pivotal mounting 46 of the yoke 45 is shown as involving a bracket 55 supported in fixed position by the frame A at a point above the inner end portion of the cat head, and a pivot pin 56 carried by the bracket 55 and holding the upper ends of the sides 5|] so that the yoke is free to swing or pivot about the axis established by the pin 56. The axis established by the pin 56 is located above and is transverse of the axis of shaft B and it is preferred that the parts be arranged and related so that the sides 56 of the yoke embrace the thrust collar 4T when the yoke depends from the pivot pin 56, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The thrust collar 41 is an annular member of substantial size coupled with the yoke through trunnions 60 which project from diametrically opposite sides of the collar and which are rotatably carried in openings 6| provided in the sides 50 of the yoke. The openings 6| are preferably extended somewhat lengthwise of the sides 50 so that the structure works without binding. With the general arrangement of parts thus far described shifting of the cross arm 5| of the yoke causes swinging of the yoke and consequent axial shifting of the thrust collar 41.

The anti-friction means 48 occurs between the thrust collar and the outer side 62 of the head flange 33. In the preferred form of the invention the thrust means involves an annular series of balls 63, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The operating means G for the actuator F is preferably a cam means suitably coupled with the control H. In the preferred arrangement the means G involves a cam 10 rotatably carried by the cross arm 5| of the yoke 45 to cooperate with the face 1| of a stop 12 supported in xed position from the frame of the draw works. In the particular case illustrated the stop 12 is in the nature of an abutment provided with a stem 13 threaded to a part 14 xed to the draw works frame and a stop nut 15 is carried on the threaded part 'I3 to set the stop or abutment in adjusted position.

In practice any suitable operating connection may be provided between the cam 10 and the actuator H. The actuator H is shown as a pivoted foot lever grouped with the controls 30 and 3| of the draw works, in which case it is convenient to couple the control H with the cam by means of a pull rod 15 and a lever arm 16. In the case illustrated the cross arm 5| of the yoke 45 is rotatable relative to the sides of the yoke and the cam 10 is fixed on the cross arm 5| while the lever arm 16 is fixed on one end of the cross arm 5|. The pull rod 15 is pivoted to the arm 16 and to the foot lever forming the control H so that when the foot lever H is depressed by the operator the rod 15 operates under tension turning the lever 16 and consequently the cross arm 5| so that the cam 10 is rotated or operated relative to the face 1| of the stop 12. By suitably shaping the cam 1| its rotation, as above described, causes swinging of the yoke in such manner as to shift the head D, causing engagement of the clutch E. In the construction illustrated 'collar 41' and the clutch plate. lserved that this form of the invention is someacreage 5. a suitable spring 80 is coupled with the: control H to normally yieldingly hold it in an unactuated or elevated position, and when the operator releases the control H the spring returns the parts to the position shown in the drawings, where the head D is free to shift away from the plane 4| of the clutch, causing the clutch to release.

The brakeJ is located at the inner end of the cat head D and is provided with a shiftable or working part operatively coupled with the control H so that the brake is set or engaged when the control H' is in the up orY unactuated4 position. In the form of the invention underv consideration the brake J is of the band type and is shown as` including a brake plate 9| xed relative' to or on a boss 92 projecting from the inner end ofV the cat head through the thrust ring 41. A brake drum 93 projects from the peripheral portion of plate 9i and a suitable frictional band 94 cooperates with the drum. In the case illustrated the band is around the drum and is an element having a suitablev frictional lining 95. The band is carried by or coupled to a pivoted lever 96 so that it is engaged or released by rocking or pivotal movement of the lever.

The desired operating connection between the operating lever 96 of the brake and the foot lever or control H is shown as including a pull rod 91 pivotally connected to a projecting por- ,tion 98 of the foot lever and to the brake lever 96. When the outer or foot end of the control H is up the projecting end 98 is down, causing the rod 98 to be pulled so that lever 9.6 is operated to a position where the brake band 94 is set. When the control H is operated or depressed the tension on the rod 91 is released and the rod is moved, up, causing the lever 96 to move so that the brake band is released. It will be apparent that through proper setting or synchronizing of the structure hereinabove described the cat head D is always under full and proper control of the control H, so that it is either stationary and held braked by the brake J or is being positively driven through the clutch E'. It is to be understood that modification may be made in the connection between the operating levery 96 and foot lever inv order to adapt the present invention to draw-works of different design and construction.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the brake J is of the disc type instead of being of the band type above described. In this oase the plate 9| of the brake carried by the boss 92' is opposed by a brake disc 93' supported in fixed position from the frame of the draw works by suitable brackets |09. A friction face 95 is carried by one of the parts, for instance, by the plate 9|', so that when the cat head D is shifted axially causing the plate 9| to be thrust toward or against the disc 93 frictional engagement is established, causing the desired braking action. In this form of the invention it is desirable to provide a suitable thrust bearing or anti-friction means between the thrust collar 47 and the clutch plate 9|. This anti-friction means may be established by an annular series of balls IM arranged between the It is to be 0bwhat simpler than that rst described, in that it eliminates certain working parts such as the brake lever 96 and the pull rod 91. To make this second form of the invention positive in operation, however, the stop l2 instead of having a single face engaged by the cam 10 has two opposed faces engaged by the cam, a face 'H' correspondingto the face lil rsti describedt andalr opposed face L05 also engaged.l bygthe cant. thecam. 'Hl` is rotated to its normallforunactuatedi position it operates onor against the` faceltii positively moving or swinging the yoke 451 sothat the brakev J"' is engaged'. The stopA 122" may: inthisf case be a yoke-like structure, as clearlyftllusa tratedin Fig. 5.

Having described only typical. preferredfforms and applications-of my invention, I. do noti-Wish to-- be limited or restricted to the specific; details herein set forth, but wish to reserve toA myself any variationsv or modifications that may" appear to'v those skilled in' the artand1f'al-l within` thescope of the following claims.

Having describedv my invention, I claim:

l'. Al structureapplicable to. a drawv works havingl a projecting shaft, a cat head'` rotatably mountedon the shaft and shiftable axially thereof', a clutch at the outer end" of the-cat head including, a clutch face ony the cat head and a clutch member fixed atthe end of the shaft, a projection onv the inner end of the cat head'projecting axially thereof, a brakeaxiallyspaced from the inner end ofi the catf head` and including an element carried by said" projection and a part cooperating withsai'd element, the said element and part operating' relative toeach other into and out of braking engagement', and` operating means including, a collar surroundingthe shaft andsaid projection and held: between the inner end'of the cat head andthe said." brake element, a fixed abutment, an arm, meanspivotallysupporting thev arr-n at one end, an oper ating cam' carried by thel arm at' its-v other.y end and engaging the abutment, and means connect-- ing the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof wherebyv operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movementv ofi the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head;

2. A structure applicable to a. draw-worksihaving a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch faceA on the cat head and a clutchv member' fixed onl` the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of thei cat head projecting axially thereof, av brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including, an element carried by said projection and part operated' into and out of braking. engagement with said brake element, an. operating means including, a collar surrounding-the shaft and projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake elementan arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a xed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the cam, a coupling between the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, and a single means operating the cam and said brake part so that when one is operated the other is released.

3. A structure applicable to a draw workshaving a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the. cat head including, a clutch face on theV cat head and a clutch member fixed on the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end ofthe cat head and including, an element carried by said projection anda part operated into and out of braking engagement with said brake element, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the said brake element, an arm having spaced side parts between which the collar is located, means pivotally supporting one end of the arm, a fixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the other end of the arm and engaging the abutment, a coupling between the collar and the side parts of the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, and a single means operating the cam and said brake parts so that when the clutch is engaged the brake is released and when the clutch is released the brake is engaged.

4. A structure applicable to a draw works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed at the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an antifriction bearing interposed between the collar and the cat head, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a fixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the abutment, and means connecting the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head.

5. A structure applicable to a draw Works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member xed at the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including, an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, cam means operating the other end of the arm. and means connecting the collar and arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam means swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, the cam means including, a fixed abutment and a cam rotatably supported on said other end of the arm and cooperatively engaging the abutment.

6. A structure applicable to a draw works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed at the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including, an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, cam means operating the other end of the arm, and means connecting the collar` and arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam means swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, the cam means including an abutment, a mounting adj ustably supporting the abutment, and a cam rotatably supported on said other end of the arm and cooperatively engaging the abutment.

'7. -A structure applicable to a draw works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed on the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including, an element carried by said projection and a part operated into and out of braking engagement with said brake element, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a fixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the abutment, a coupling between the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, and a single means operating the cam and said brake part s0 that when the clutch is engaged the brake is released and when the clutch is released the brake is engaged and said single means including, a pivotally mounted pedal, a spring normally yieldingly holding the pedal in an elevated position, a link connecting the pedal and cam, and a link connecting the pedal and said brake part.

8. A structure applicable to a draw works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted cn the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed at the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a fixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the abutment, and means connecting the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and effects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, the said brake element having a drum portion and said brake part including a band engaged with the drum.

9. A structure applicable to a draw works having a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head including, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed at the end of the shaft, a projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a iixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the abutment, and means connecting the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and eifects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, said brake element including a plate xed to the projection and projecting radially therefrom and engaged by the collar and a drum concentric with the shaft and cat head and projecting axially from the plate and said brake part including a band engaged with the drum.

10. A structure applicable to a draw workshaving a projecting shaft, a cat head rotatably mounted on the shaft, and shiftable axially thereof, a clutch at the outer end of the cat head ncluding, a clutch face on the cat head and a clutch member fixed at the end of the shaft, a

projection on the inner end of the cat head projecting axially thereof, a brake axially spaced from the inner end of the cat head and including an element carried by said projection and a part cooperating with said element, the said element and part operating relative to each other into and out of braking engagement, and operating means including, a collar surrounding the shaft and said projection and held between the inner end of the cat head and the said brake element, an arm, means pivotally supporting the arm at one end, a fixed abutment, an operating cam carried by the arm at its other end and engaging the abutment, and means connecting the collar and the arm intermediate the ends thereof whereby operation of the cam swings the arm and eiiects movement of the collar causing axial shifting of the cat head, said brake element including an annular plate fixed to the projection and projecting radially therefrom and surrounding the shaft and said brake part including a fixed plate parallel with and opposed to said annular plate.

HARVEY L. COMSTOCK..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,755,728 Foster Apr. 22, 1930 2,014,683 Hubert Sept. 17, 1935 2,300,122 Kelley Oct. 27, 1942 2,355,861 Harlin Aug. 15, 1944 2,445,116 Huston July 13, 19018 

